If you're from the Delaware Valley, you probably already know that yesterday Aug 6th, Robert Hazard died. Many of you are probably saying WHO?? but every one has heard his work. Though best known for his song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" made famous of course by Cyndi Lauper, which Robert wrote in a bathtub in just 15minutes.
Philadelphia in the early 80's was Hazard Country, you couldn't come into the tri-state area w/o hearing Change Reaction, Escalator Of Life or Out Of The Blue. These songs were played on WMMR alongside of the Who, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. At that time, WMMR was one of  the top two rock stations in the entire country.
Robert's popularity though began in the clubs where word of his energetic show spread like wildfire... A MUST  SEE.....
Radio felt the excitement and actually asked him to give them something they could play. He rushed out "Robert Hazard & The Heros", a four song EP and the mania spread from the clubs onto radio. The EP went on to sell in excess of 125,000 copies just in the Delaware Valley and prompted Rolling Stone Magazine to do a major feature artlicle about the success of this unsigned phenomenon.
We were just getting started around this time and the excitement being generated by Robert was having a positve affect on the whole original music scene in Philly. It was healthy, vibrant, and just an amazing time.!.
Robert was signed to RCA Records and had an MTV hit w/ Escalator of Life.
His success opened up the doors for so many other Delaware Valley Groups to get signed to major labels. From the Hooters to Book Of Love to Pretty Poison.
Though we were one of the younger bands at the time, we developed a connection with Robert through our then manager Bill Eib (Amos Lee)
Bill had manged Robert's career throughout the 80s.
We were also connected through our guitarist Louie Franco, who was once Robert's guitarist and our attorney Alan Spielman.
It's sad to think that Robert had just signed a new record deal with Rykodisc and his current album Troubador was among his best work.
Thank you for all the great music and blazing the trail for all of us who followed.
RIP Robert your legacy will live on forever.
If anybody has any memories of Robert Hazard, I'd love to hear them.
Please take a moment to check out his myspace
http://www.myspace.com/roberthazardmusic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEc8Oz4Cl_s